After six years, US ambassador returns to Damascus

Published January 16th, 2011 - 20:40 GMT

Robert Ford, the first American ambassador to Damascus since 2005, arrived Sunday in Syria.

Robert Ford, the first American ambassador to Damascus since 2005, arrived Sunday in Syria, AFP reported. "He will not have any official meetings before submitting his credentials to President Bashar al-Assad," the source stated.

Ford's arrival comes almost six years after Washington withdrew Margaret Scobey, following the assassination in Beirut of ex-premier Rafik Hariri.

President Barack Obama has argued that returning an ambassador would help persuade the Syrian regime to change its policies regarding Lebanon, Israel, Iraq and its support for "extremist" groups.